Schools a target for takeaways

Some 70% of schools in Birmingham have at least one takeaway on their doorstep

Takeaways selling cheap meals near schools encourage children to come out of school to have the takeaway with their friends

Linda Hindle, dietitian at Birmingham Public Health

In Birmingham, two schools have 19 shops serving junk food nearby.

One in four children in the city is severely overweight.

But 70% of schools in Birmingham have at least one takeaway on their doorstep.

Dad-of-two Masuk Ali said: “There are too many places in the area serving food which is bad for our children.

“They are surrounded by takeaways and my kids do ask if we can stop at these places to pick up food.”

Mum Hibo Fibow added: “It is bad. It is promoting unhealthy food to our young children.”

Linda Hindle, a dietitian at Birmingham Public Health, which helped to carry out the research, warned: “Takeaways selling cheap meals near schools encourage children to come out of school to have the takeaway with their friends.”